Peter van Straalen from Gerwen and his brother Hans from Bergeijk are still trapped in the Russian capital Moscow. Peter, 46, is seriously ill and recently underwent a major stem cell transplant in Moscow. Just then, the Russians declared war on Ukraine. Just last week, the brothers thought they could travel home via Istanbul on Tuesday. But due to an infection with Peter, that plan went up in smoke. “The worst nightmare has come true.”
It’s an unreal situation. Peter, who suffers from MS, is seriously weakened in hospital for a month and his 39-year-old brother is trapped in a hotel room. They are not allowed to visit each other, because Peter is in complete quarantine, cut off from the outside world.
“Last night I received a message from the hospital that Peter has contracted an infection. We were actually supposed to return to the Netherlands today. But that is not possible now, because it is life-threatening for him.”
Peter has to stay in the hospital for at least three to five days, the doctors advise. The uncertainty is debilitating as the situation in the Russian capital becomes increasingly grim. Airline tickets are almost impossible to get. Hans: “I’ve been grinding all day, how are we going to come back?”
Because of the war there are almost no flights from Russia to Europe. On Sunday Hans was at the airport to check whether all the papers are in order for the transport of his brother in the wheelchair. He saw with his own eyes how great the chaos is.
“People were fighting to get, push and pull plane tickets,” he says. “Some were crying or waving money. They wanted to give their last cent to get out. I stood in a ten-meter line for an hour before it was finally my turn.”
It is no longer possible to book a plane ticket to the Netherlands. “The online system continuously gives error messages and the website is down half the time,” says Hans gloomily. “You don’t really get any further.”
An additional problem: the visa of the two brothers expires on Wednesday and it is not possible to extend it. “In principle we are then illegally in Russia”, says Hans. “You can only apply for a temporary residence permit, but that is not all that easy.” He is in contact with the Dutch embassy. It helps him to take the right steps.
The powerlessness is great. “I stand with my back against the wall and I can’t really do anything. And Peter has been in the hospital for a month now. It’s pretty hopeless.”
The prices for airline tickets skyrocketed because of the war. The brothers hope that donations will be made via the website Donate for Peer†
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